Delaware County Libraries, with grant funding from Rotary District 7450 and the Rotary Clubs of Chester, Media, Swarthmore and Wayne, are working County-wide to encourage parents and their little ones to be part of the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program.
1,000 Books Before Kindergarten is a nationally recognized program that encourages parents and caregivers of preschoolers to read regularly with their children in order to develop the early literacy skills that are essential for school success. Research has shown that the most reliable predictor of school success is how often a child is read to during the early years. Reading to children from an early age can develop vocabulary, increase letter recognition, and improve comprehension and narrative skills that are essential for learning to read. Most importantly, sharing books with children promotes a lifelong love of books and reading!
It's easier to read 1000 books than you think! If you read one book a day with your child from the time they are born until they turn five, you will have read 1,825 books! To make it even easier, DCL is also offering 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten backpacks for County-wide circulation. The backpacks are filled with a mix of 10 classic and new picture books and board books along with early literacy tips. Anyone can check out the backpacks by visiting www.delcolibraries.org and searching 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten. Backpacks can also be found at participating libraries.
Click here to view our brochure. (PDF)
How to Sign Up
To sign up and log your books virtually in the Beanstack app or online:
► Register here or in the app!
► Download the Beanstack Tracker app
► Click here for instructions on using Beanstack. (PDF)
► Click here for instructions on using the Beanstack app. (PDF)
Or, sign up by simply visiting any of the participating libraries to receive your first log for keeping track of how many books you read.
Libraries participating in 1000 Books Before Kindergarten:
Collingdale Public Library*
Darby Free Library
Folcroft Public Library
Glenolden Library
Haverford Township Free Library
Helen Kate Furness Free Library
J. Lewis Crozer Library
Lansdowne Public Library
Marple Public Library
Media-Upper Providence Free Library
Middletown Free Library
Newtown Public Library
Norwood Public Library
Prospect Park Free Library
Rachel Kohl Community Library
Radnor Memorial Library
Ridley Park Public Library
Ridley Township Public Library and Resource Center
Springfield Township Library
Tinicum Memorial Public Library
Upper Darby/Sellers Memorial Free Library- Municipal Branch
Upper Darby/Sellers Memorial Free Library- Primos Branch
Upper Darby/Sellers Memorial Free Library- Sellers Memorial Branch
Yeadon Public Library
*In Beanstack only